The United States

Elizabeth Darling James Ekwensi April 2, 2012

Geography History Politics Economics Religion Pop Culture Business Culture

Agenda

Geography

Geography
Territorial Expansion

 1492: Columbus sailed the ocean blue and lands in the Bahamas. (Go, Chris!) 1513: Juan Ponce de Leon lands on the coast of Florida 1565: Saint Augustine, Florida, (Spanish) becomes the first permanent European colony in N. America

History: Before 1600

 1607: Jamestown (English) is established by the London Company in southeast Virginia 1619: House of Burgessesfirst rep assembly in America meets in Virginia; First African slaves brought to Jamestown 1620: Plymouth Colony settled in Massachusetts by Pilgrims from Englandgovernment based on Mayflower Compact 1650: Colonial population estimated at 50,400 1664: English seize New Amsterdam (Dutch) and rename New York

History: 1600-1699

 1754: French and Indian War begins British and French battle for control of eastern North America 1763: War ends with Treaty of Paris British gain control of Canada and all French possessions east of Mississippi 1770: Boston Massacre British troops fire into a mob, killing 5 men and inciting public protests 1773: Boston Tea Party Colonial patriots protest against British Tea Tax 1774: First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia with 56 delegates

History: 1700-1774

 1775: Revolutionary War begins 1776: Continental Congress adopts Declaration of Independence 1777: Continental Congress adopts Articles of Confederation (first U.S. constitution) and first U.S. flag 1783: Britain formally acknowledges American independence in Treaty of Paris 1787: Constitutional Convention drafts U.S. Constitution 1789: G. Washington elected first President, U.S. Constitution ratified into effect, Congress meets first time

History: 1775-1789

1791: Bill of Rights passed (first 10 Amendments) 1800: Capitol moved to Washington, D.C. 1812: War of 1812 1814: Treaty of Ghent signed, national anthem written 1846: Mexican War (ends 1848) 1848: Gold Rush begins 1861: South secedes, forms Confederate States of America 1861: Civil War (ends 1865)

History: 1790-1861

1914: World War I (U.S. enters 1917; ends 1918) 1929: Stock market crashes, starting Great Depression 1931: Star Spangled Banner adopted as national anthem 1939: World War II (U.S. enters 1941 after Pearl Harbor; ends 1945)

History: 1900-1949

1950: Korean War (ends 1953), Vietnam War (ends 1975) 1958: First American satellite is launched 1963: MLK, Jr. delivers I Have a Dream 1970: Kent State shooting during antiwar protest 1979: U.S. establishes diplomatic ties with China 1991: Persian Gulf War 1993: North American Free Trade Agreement

History: 1950-2000

 2001: World Trade Centers fall in terrorist attack 2003: Iraq War begins 2008: First African-American President elected

History: 2001-Present

 Constitutional Republic 3 branches

Executive: President enforces laws Legislative: Congress passes bills into law
Senate (2 Senators from each state) House of Representatives (Number of reps based on population)

Judiciary: Interprets laws, Constitution

Supreme Court, lower federal courts

Party System: 2 dominate, others exist

Democratic
Republican

Politics

 GDP (purchasing power parity) $15.04 trillion (2011 est.) Country comparison to the world: 2nd $14.82 trillion (2010 est.) $14.38 trillion (2009 est.) GDP - per capita (PPP) $48,100 (2011 est.) Country comparison to the world: 12th $47,800 (2010 est.) $46,800 (2009 est.)
*Note: data are in 2011 US dollars

Economy

Composition by Sector

GDP by sector
Agriculture: 1.2% Industries: 22.1% Services: 76.7% Comparison to the world: 4th Occupation
Farming, Forestry, Fishing: 0.7% Mfg, Extraction, Transportation, Crafts: 20.3% Managerial, Professional, Technical: 37.3% Sales and Office: 24.2% Other Services: 17.6%
Agriculture Industry Service

Labor Force: 153.4 million (includes unemployed)

FFF METC MPT S/O Other Service

Unemployment: 9.1% (2011 est.);

Economy

105th

in world

 The economic history of the United States has its roots in European settlements in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.
The American colonies went from marginally successful colonial economies to a small, independent farming economy, which in 1776 became the United States of America. In 230 years the United States grew to a huge, integrated, industrialized economy that makes up over a quarter of the world economy.

Economic History

 After the Great Depression

Economic History

 1960 High inflation, high unemployment, and huge government deficits weakens confidence in fiscal policy as a tool for regulating the overall pace of economic activity; monetary policy assumes growing prominence. 1970 Worst recession in recent decades (in terms of lost output)
1973-75 oil shocks: GDP fell by 3.1 percent

1980 High inflation, budget deficits

1981-82 recession: GDP dropped by 2.9 percent; trade deficits; Vietnam war

1990s Output fell by 1.3 percent in the 1990-91 downturn, and a tiny 0.3 percent in the 2001 recession (2001 downturn lasted just eight months) 2008 to present: Recession; too big to fail; government intervention

Economic History: 19602000

 High household debt ($14 trillion) including $2.5 trillion in consumer debt. High national debt ($9 trillion) High corporate debt ($9 trillion), High mortgage debt (over $10 trillion as of 2005 year-end) High unfunded Medicare liability ($30 trillion), High unfunded Social Security liability ($12 trillion). High external debt (amount owed to foreign lenders), High trade deficits Serious deterioration in the United States net international investment position (NIIP) (-24% of GDP) In 2006, the U.S economy had its lowest saving rate since 1933.

Economic Issues

 US economy is gradually recovering from the 2008/2009 melt down The U.S. economy maintains a relatively high GDP per capita, with the caveat that it may be elevated by borrowing and a low to moderate GDP growth rate making it attractive to immigrants worldwide

Economic Analysis

US vs. The World Economy

 Mass production, corporations, such as General Electric, have been instrumental in shaping the United States. Through the stock market, American banks and investors have grown their economy by investing and withdrawing capital from profitable corporations. Today in the era of globalization, American investors and corporations have influence all over the world. The American government is also included among the major investors in the American economy. Government investments have been directed towards public works of scale (such as from the Hoover Dam), military-industrial contracts, and the financial industry.

Economic Drivers

None

Religions in the US
Christians: (78.5%) Protestant (51.3%) Roman Catholic (23.9%) Mormon (1.7%) other Christian (1.6%) Muslim (0.1%) Buddhist (0.7%) Jewish (1.7%) Unaffiliated (12.1%) Other or unspecified (2.5%) None (4%) Muslim
Buddhist Jewish Unaffiliated Other/Unspeci fied Christian

Religion

92% of Americans say they believe in God 74% say they believe in life after death 63% believe their scriptures are the word of God 25% of Christians say they have some doubts that God exists. 57% of American evangelical Christians said they believe that many religions can lead to eternal life The importance of religious affiliation
2/3 go to church regularly Churches and civic organizations are meeting places for making connections

Religion: Fun Facts

Pop Culture

The American Dream Dislike of centralized systems which limit personal development The importance of success Material success as a measure of personal development: U.S. consumer debt: $14 trillion Success is individualindividualism vs. feudalism The emphasis on initiative vs. govt intervention Creates a need to perform because people are evaluated & rewarded on individual performance Self-improvement maniaAmericans want to be better so show them how your product will make them seem better. The negatives include the feeling that failure is individual in spite of the fact that often it is the result of circumstancesespecially today

Business Culture

 Positives Relatively limited government regulationpro business orientation Favorable tax structure Access to venture capital pro risk Can-do spirit which encourages entrepreneurship Huge consumption-oriented market

Negatives Tremendous pressure Job insecurity Highly competitive Swim with the Sharks without being eaten alive Short term thinking Hype Wall St. mentalityquick profits, little responsibility, gambling, moral hazard.

The American Experience

Informal First names and nick names Joking and bantering (one-upsmanship) Extrovert behavior (highly respected) Uncomfortable with silencethe Japanese weapon Time is money--be brief Conflict and confrontation accepted Exhibit confidencehype?

Communication Style

Dress--formal in business, informal socially Time--punctual in business, 20 minute rule socially Limited gift giving (Christmas) Achievement based respect, not seniority Not as rigid rules as Asia and perhaps Europe

Protocol

Paid vacations--2-3 weeks 50 hour week not uncommon Unpaid overtime for managers Meritocracy, not seniority Never ask about ones salary Health insurance--must be negotiated Most benefits must be negotiated--no free lunch

Salaries and Benefits

 Voluntary organizations are often meeting places Americans are joiners--Rotary Club, etc. Gentleman sports--tennis, squash, golf, hunting, alpine skiing are meeting places Smoking is frowned upon Expected to adapt to American values

Socializing

Tough negotiators High/Low balling is common Keep your bottom line a secret Your opponent will be looking for it Americans may promise more than they can deliver A result of high expectations Hype is common

Negotiating

Short-term thinking The quarterly report The basis of fat bonuses for execs Layoffs and firings Increases stock value Creates a loyalty dilemma No job security, no loyalty Its a jungle out there Team working is important Requires good communication skills and information sharing Bosses can be tough and demanding, but performance is rewarded You must showcase yourself to be promoted Team working and competition for promotion--a contradiction?

Employer/Employee Relations

 Sportsknow the situation of the local teams. TV programs American accomplishments Both as a nation and the accomplishments of the company with which youre dealing Find common interestshobbies Get them talking about what they are in to Avoid mentioning health care reform and how popular Obama is in the rest of the world In fact just avoid political issues, regulation & collective governmental responsibility

Conversation

 No sport reflects the American value system like football. Visitors to the United States need only watch a game or two to learn all they need to know about the American way of life and the beliefs, attitudes, and concerns of American society

American Football

 You have to keep your eye on the ball if you want to stay in the game. Dropped the ball: failed to do what needed to be done On the ball: alert, active, and smart Drop back and punt: give up the present strategy and try something else To hold the line: to be firm, to b e uncompromising To strike out: to fail

Sports Metaphors

 To score points: to make a favorable impression on someone To play ball: to go along with, to cooperate To throw a curve: to do something unexpected To play hard ball: to be tough and unscrupulous To cover the bases: to take everything into consideration Cant get to first base: unable to complete the first step toward a goal

Sports Metaphors